Issues

When I first ran in 2015, I promised to work every day for the services, investments and amenities our neighborhoods deserve. Looking back now, I am so proud of what our community has achieved over the last four years!

Now with my re-election campaign starting up once again, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and continue getting it done for District 11.

Jobs & Economy

Well-paying jobs assist in family and economic stability

Our residents need more job opportunities that will lead to sustainable careers that provide livable wages. Creating comprehensive workforce development through certification and degree paths will ensure our residents have the means to live, work and play in the community. Sustainable growth will allow businesses and citizens to prosper.

A strong economy includes opportunities for all residents. New development in Montbello, Parkfield, High Point, Green Valley Ranch, 61st & Pena, and Denver International Airport create unique opportunities for the area. Affordable housing, job creation, sustainable infrastructure, and amenities are a critical part of a vibrant and successful community. We have completed:

Secured over $535,250 for expanded workforce investments specifically for District 11. ✅

Secured 4 fulltime Financial Coaches and Navigators located at city sites, like the Arie P. Taylor building. This is a free service for credit recovery, budgeting, and financial planning for residents. ✅

Supported the development and implementation of the WorkNow Construction Career platform in partnership with the Community College of Denver, Gary Investments, and the Office of Economic Development along with many community-based organizations; 592 individuals have enrolled with 81% increasing their household income within 6 months of enrollment! ✅

Chaired City Council’s Workforce and Economic Development Working Group and brought in experts from other cities and counties to explore and implement workforce best practices. ✅

Hosted quarterly job fairs in District 11 with Denver International Airport, WorkNow, and the summer youth employment program. ✅

Hosted the Far Northeast Economic Summit in Spring 2017 in partnership with the Mayor’s office, city agencies, and community partners to move forward retail, grocer, transit, and neighborhood planning initiatives. ✅

​Working on:

Explore creating a workforce development training center in District 11, with partners from private industry (construction, hospitality, medical and technical) with an emphasis on jobs leading to livable wage careers, including benefits.

Work on creating a Business Improvement District from Smith Road along Peoria to 56th, in cooperation with District 8 and 11.

Encourage new business growth, along with marketing campaign to increase “shop & play in Far Northeast” with a priority on grocery and retail store options.

Expand working partnerships with developers as part of the Neighborhood Planning Initiative to ensure residents get comprehensive development that is sustainable and desired.

Supporting families and businesses in developing tools to ensure stability and mitigate displacement.

Secure housing is vital to the health and well-being of our families, community, and economy. District 11 has had new housing development and many are affordable products. A much-needed affordable family development, East Range Crossing will be located in Green Valley Ranch at the intersections of N. Dunkirk and E. 59th Avenue with 252 units ranging between 40-60% of the average median income. Other new housing developments in our community include Sable Ridge Apartments (affordable senior housing) and Avion at Denver Connections (homes starting at the low $200’s).​Building our financial empowerment is crucial so that we can work together to overcome the challenges that a growing Denver faces. Our community conversations have directed my work to address involuntary displacement through policy. From expansion of the property tax rebate program in the city to include families with children and the doubling of the city's affordable housing resources we are making great strides, but have more work to do. I look forward to hearing your ideas so we can make sure we are supporting everyone in our community. We have completed:​​

Secured over $7,510,000 for new affordable housing and resource programs in District 11. ✅

Expansion of the property tax rebate program for seniors and disabled individuals. This will include for the first-time families with children. (Ordinance expected to be approved early 2019) ✅

Created property tax resource flyer that will be included in all property tax bills mailed in January 2019. ✅

Doubled the Affordable Housing Fund in August 2018 bringing the total 2019 investment for housing to $50 million for Denver. ✅

Passed income non-discrimination in housing ordinance in August 2018 to ensure that potential tenants have fair access. ✅

Supported Denver’s first-ever eviction defense fund in June 2018 to support renters in keeping their housing. ✅

Formed Montbello Leadership Cabinet in 2016 to start exploring education, advocacy, and policy initiatives to mitigate involuntary displacement and allow our seniors to age in place. ✅

Working on:

Continue to build Montbello Speaks – speakers bureau to bring financial, housing, mortgage, and estate planning experts to the community for educational and Q & A sessions. Additional forums planned for 2019.

Expand the supports for local businesses who are impacted by rising retail lease rates in partnership with the Office of Economic Development.

Utilize the Mayor’s Neighborhood Equity and Stabilization Team (NEST) to help preserve the culture and charter of Denver’s neighborhoods’ experiencing change.

Explore Community Land Trust’s and other national best practices to support residents housing security.

Mobility & Infrastructure

Transportation and multi-mobility solutions will create a more livable community for our residents and encourage economic growth. We are a diverse neighborhood - with I-70, RTD, East Line Commuter Rail, and a series of internal roads that connect these communities, it is imperative that we continue to work collaboratively to engage city departments, reginal partners, state and federal stakeholders. This will ensure a safe, effective, and efficient transportation networks that will encourage economic growth as people navigate in and out of our community.

I will continue to work with city agencies, developers, and residents to ensure a strong foundation for our community. We deserve to have safe routes to schools, pedestrian infrastructure that encourages both walk- and bike-ability, and traffic calming measures. We have completed:

Secured over $72,207,701 in amenities, roadway buildouts, traffic signals, streetlights, and infrastructure to ensure our community is safe for everyone. ✅

​Community

Improving Our Quality of Life

We deserve to have safe, clean, and beautiful places to live and play. Our health and our children's health are truly our wealth. Sustainable education partnerships ensure our children are at or above grade level and headed on a career path. Working together with local, state, federal agencies, businesses, nonprofits, and foundations we will create new parks, trail connections, and recreational amenities that encourage physical activity and we will reap the benefits of mental and physical health. We have completed:

Successfully passed a dedicated funding source for parks in Denver that will generate at least $35 million additional dollars. ✅

Participated in Denver Public Schools meetings to improve the state of education in the FNE. Engaged in supporting our families with children through resource fairs, summer youth employment programs, worked with Denver Public Schools to launch the community listing sessions about improving the state of education in the FNE. ✅Created the largest open space (198 acres) in the City of Denver, First Creek DEN Open Space ✅

Food Access

A Healthy Community is a Happy Community

Everyone should have access to healthy, fresh, and locally produced food in their neighborhood. I have been working with the city to try and create incentives for full-service grocers to come to the community and fill the food gaps we have. It has been wonderful working with innovative folks in the district to fill these gaps, like Any Street Grocery's mobile food market and Montbello Organizing Committee's work on their Fresh Lo marketplace. We have completed:

Facilitated and supported the State Land Board sale of 19 acre NW retail corner at Green Valley Ranch Blvd. and Tower Rd. where grocers are actively looking to locate. ✅

Continue to promote District 11’s retail and grocer potential through meetings and driving tours with grocers, developers, and city officials in partnership with community groups, like Montbello Organizing Committee and Montbello 2020. ✅

Supported the "No Cost Grocery" program in partnership with Denver Food Rescue/UNFI to donate 1500 pounds of food at 3 different locations: KIPP College Prep, Maxwell Elementary, and Academy 360. ✅

Support food market, locally sourced, and other innovative food sustainability tools for our community. Concepts like the Stanley Marketplace, to encourage retail space for local businesses and food market.

Safety

Our Safety is a Top Priority

We must have the resources necessary to have timely response times for both police and fire departments. Transparency is important for citizens to understand our crime statistics and the tools the police are implementing to address issues. Traffic enforcement both along major corridors and neighborhood streets is important to pedestrian safety and the city’s Vision Zero initiatives.

We deserve to have safe spaces within our recreation centers, libraries, schools, and faith-based centers, along with creating more community-based gathering spaces. Access to services and support ensure our families health is a top priority for the whole person in regard to mental, physical, and financial health. We have completed:

Secured $48,780,000 for new police officers, resources, and new fire station at Jackson Gap in District 11. ✅

Secured 29 new Police Officers for our area. ✅

Secured new traffic calming speed monitors in 2018 budget. ✅

Caring for Colorado - Denver will have $45 million dollars annually, beginning January 1, 2019 for: Mental health services and treatment for children and adults; Suicide prevention programs; Opioid and substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery programs; Facilities and programs, for those with mental health and substance abuse needs, including: housing, joint efforts of first-responders and mental health experts, and training for first-responders; to reduce homelessness, improve long-term recovery, and reduce the use of jails and emergency rooms. ✅

Participated in all District 5 Citizen Advisory meetings. ✅

​Working on:

Continue to advocate for additional police officers and fire department personal, in additional to a Substation or Cop Shop in Green Valley Ranch.

Complete the $17.3 million District 5 Police Station replacement building and co-location with 911 call center in District 8, serves District 11 residents as well. (Elevate Bond project).

Build new Fire Station at 72nd and Tower Road $16.1 million (Elevate Bond project).

Continue to implement traffic calming measures, like the pedestrian islands and crossing beacon on Albrook Drive in Montbello and the HAWK signal at Green Valley Ranch Blvd. and Walden St. ​